Written Answers Tuesday 23 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Class Sizes

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average class size has been for primary (a) one, (b) two and (c) three in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Michael Russell: Information on the average class sizes in primary stages one, two and three by local authority from 2004 to 2009 can be found in table 6.6 of the relevant year’s publication of Pupils in Scotland at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PubPupilCensus

  Pupil census data on average class size in primary stages one, two and three by local authority from 1999 to 2003 is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52079).

Education

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with education authorities to promote and report on performance improvement plans under the provisions in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is not directly involved with education authorities regarding their statutory duties under the 2000 Act. The Scottish Government does, however, engage closely with authorities in the process of establishing, monitoring and reporting on their single outcome agreements, aspects of which focus on education.

  More specifically, as part of the Scottish Government’s ten point plan for Curriculum for Excellence, announced in March 2010, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) is currently providing support for establishments in implementing their new curriculum structures. HMIE worked in partnership with directors of education to agree a plan of support for each authority, using school improvement plans as a key source of evidence to identify priority areas.

Fuel Poverty

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Housing and Communities will publish a statement on fuel poverty.

Alex Neil: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires ministers to report at least every four years on progress towards the commitment that by 2016, so far as is reasonably practicable, persons do not live in fuel poverty. The updated Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement detailing such progress will be published on 25 November 2010.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the predicted cost will be of retaining the current eligibility and exclusions in the minor ailments scheme should prescription charges be abolished.

Nicola Sturgeon: The anticipated cost of retaining the current eligibility and exclusions in the minor ailment service (MAS) when the prescription charge is reduced to zero in April 2011, will be in line with current costs.

  For the most recent cost of MAS, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37442 on 23 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the minor ailments scheme was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10, a total of £16.225 million was paid in remuneration and reimbursement to community pharmacies for the minor ailment service.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish House Conditions Survey will be published.

Alex Neil: The Scottish House Condition Survey 2009 Annual Report will be published on 25 November 2010. This publication has been pre-announced, in line with national statistics practices, on the Scottish Government website. The list of forthcoming publications can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Search/Forthcoming.

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the sickness absence rates of Scottish Prison Service employees have been in each of the last three years, broken down by staff category.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Average Working Days Lost

  

Pay Band
1 April 2007 to
31 March 2008
1 April 2008 to
31 March 2009
1 April 2009 to
31 March 2010


A1 (Mainly Admin)
13.2
-
-


B (Mainly Admin)
13.6
14.5
9.7


C (Mainly Operational Officers)2
8.7
9.3
8.8


D (Mainly Residential Officers)2
11.6
11.6
10.1


E (Mainly 1st Line Managers)
7.3
9.2
6.8


F (Middle Management)
5.6
4.4
4.2


G (Senior Management)
4.3
6.0
5.2


H (Senior Management
0.8
4.0
1.3


I (Senior Management) 
13.2
0.8
2.5


Nurses
20.1
17.8
19.2


Clinical Manager
14.1
4.9
9.0


Health Centre Manager
1.2
0.6
3.0


Senior Civil Servants
0.7
4.3
1.1


SPS Total
10.3
10.6
9.3



  Notes:

  1. Pay Band A was amalgamated with Pay Band B.

  2. Operations officers are mainly involved with security duties in prisons. Residential officers have a high degree of day-to-day contact with prisoners.

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners in each prison was assessed as having an alcohol problem in 2009-10.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Every prisoner admitted to custody goes through an initial health screening by a nurse. Prisoners are all asked about historical and current alcohol misuse to ascertain immediate clinical need. Research indicates that there is a strong link between alcohol misuse and offending, particularly anti-social behaviour and violent crime. According to the 12 Prisoners' Survey (2009), half (50%) of Scottish prisoners said they were drunk at the time of the offence.

  Prisoners serving over 31 days in custody, identified with an alcohol misuse problem, are offered a comprehensive substance misuse assessment.

  The following table shows the number of assessments completed for Alcohol misuse against referrals made to the Enhanced Addiction Casework Service (EACS) in 2009-10:

  

Prison
Number of Prisoners Referred to EACS
% Prisoners Assessed for Alcohol Misuse


HMP Aberdeen
306
15.03% (46)


HMP Barlinnie
731
29.69% (217)


HMP Cornton Vale
515
17.67% (91)


HMP Dumfries
216
32.87% (71)


HMP Edinburgh
748
15.24% (114)


HMP Glenochil
334
25.75% (86)


HMP Greenock
379
22.16% (84)


HMP Inverness
210
36.19% (76)


HMP Open Estate*
280
27.86% (78)


HMP Perth
597
18.09% (108)


HMP Peterhead
100
28% (28)


HM YOI Polmont
478
57.11% (273)


HMP Shotts
126
14.29% (18)


Total
5,020
25.70% (1,290)



  Note: *Open Estate refers to Castle Huntly and Noranside.

  A further 87 prisoners were identified though EACS as having problematic alcohol issues.

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners in each prison was assessed as having a substance abuse problem in 2009-10.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Every prisoner who is admitted to custody goes through an initial health screening by a nurse. Prisoners are all asked about historical and current substance misuse to ascertain immediate clinical need. Drug problems are highly prevalent with 56% of prisoners testing positive for illegal drugs in their system upon entry to Scotland's prisons. According to the 12 Prisoners' Survey (2009) just less than half reported being under the influence (45%) at the time of their offence.

  Prisoners serving over 31 days in custody, identified with a substance misuse problem, are offered a comprehensive substance misuse assessment.

  The following table shows the number of assessments completed against referrals made to the Enhanced Addiction Casework Service (EACS) in 2009-10:

  

Prison
Number of Prisoners Referred to EACS
% Prisoners Assessed for Drug Misuse
% Prisoners Assessed for Alcohol Misuse
% Prisoners Assessed for Drugs and Alcohol Misuse
Total Assessed


HMP Aberdeen
306
47.06% (144)
15.03% (46)
2.61% (8)
64.71% (198)


HMP Barlinnie
731
40.63% (297)
29.69% (217)
8.62% (63)
78.93% (577)


HMP Cornton Vale
515
74.37% (383)
17.67% (91)
1.75% (9)
93.79% (483)


HMP Dumfries
216
37.04% (80)
32.87% (71)
10.65% (23)
80.56% (174)


HMP Edinburgh
748
52.01% (389)
15.24% (114)
3.48% (26)
70.72% (529)


HMP Glenochil
334
39.82% (133)
25.75% (86)
4.49% (15)
70.06% (234)


HMP Greenock
379
41.95% (159)
22.16% (84)
5.28% (20)
69.39% (263)


HMP Inverness
210
39.05 (82)
36.19% (76)
7.14% (15)
82.38% (173)


HMP Open Estate*
280
31.79% (89)
27.86% (78)
0.36% (1)
60% (168)


HMP Perth
597
47.57% (284)
18.09% (108)
3.69% (22)
69.35% (414)


HMP Peterhead
100
18% (18)
28% (28)
0
46% (46)


HM YOI Polmont
478
34.73% (166)
57.11% (273)
4.60% (22)
96.44% (461)


HMP Shotts
126
65.08% (82)
14.29% (18)
0.79% (1)
80.16% (101)


Total
5020
45.94% (2,306)
25.70% (1,290)
4.48% (225)
76.12% (3,821)



  Note: *Open Estate refers to Castle Huntly and Noranside.

  It should be noted that data relating to assessments carried out for both drugs and alcohol only began being collated in April 2010.